Religious Studies 101
Section 57, MW 3:30–4:45 pm
Room: AD 249

This site designed and maintained by
Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
14 January 2008		 Welcome
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the religious beliefs, behaviors,and communities of human beings across the centuries and in diverse parts of the world. The central foci of the course will be threefold:
  1. the complexes of symbol, myth, and ritual which comprise various religious systems
  2. specific beliefs which undergird these symbolic words and actions of various religious communities
  3. social and behavioral implications of these ritual celebration sand belief systems (i.e., ethics and morality)
   The three "religions of the book" (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) will provide most of the examples for how religion functions, but other indigenous and world religions also will be used from time-to-time. Keep in mind, however, that this is not a "world religions" class, but an introduction to the academic study of religion; Methods and approaches are emphasized over the content of any specific religion(s).
   Students will have an opportunity to see at first-hand how scholars do research on contemporary and historical religious communities and movements. In particular, they will be involved in a new research initiative focusing on the religious communities in the Cleveland metropolitan area. (For more information on this point, see the description of the course project.) Religious communities both contribute to local community life and culture, and sometimes complicate or even obstruct it. This course will allow students to begin to tease out the interface between various religious traditions and religious communities and the life in the wider sociopolitical community.
Course Objectives
 By successfully completing this course, a student will develop the following competencies:
Cognitive:
  • Recognize, define, and correctly use the key terms relating to the academic study of religion
  • Understand how to interpret religious texts in accordance with their literary genres, cultural settings, and other salient features
  • Present the views of religions other than her/his own in an accurate, coherent, and respectful way
  • Recognize the inter-disciplinary nature of the academic study of religion, and explain the web of connections between religion and "the real world" of culture, politics, and economics
  • Gain a better understanding of her/his own religion and how it compares and contrasts with others
Affective:
  • Respectfully present views of those with whom you disagree,while giving reasons for your disagreement
  • Recognize the value of an historical, analytical understanding of religions
  • Respect the value of other religions in their own right, not simply as a supplement to your own
  • Engage the challenge of the Jesuit, Catholic emphasis on being"a person for others," and recognize the impact of such a lifestyle on oneself and society
Skills:
  • Hone critical thinking and reading skills
  • Develop precision in speaking and writing
  • Demonstrate command of the phenomenological method for study of religions
  • Make fruitful use of the standard research tools for the academic study of religion
Class Format

Class Format includes a variety of media designed to engage participants in the content of this course. These include careful reading of the assigned texts; reflective & creative papers; slides & videos, food and music; lectures; field research; student presentations; worksheets &quizzes. Students are expected and encouraged to be active participants in the learning process.

Contact Information:
Dr. McGinn
Office: AD B250e
Hours: TWH 9–10 AM or by appointment
Email: smcginn
Tel. 216-397-3087 		Mr. Dunn
SC 179A
Hours: W 2:30–3:30 PM, MW 4:45–5:45 PM, or by appointment
Email: tdunn06
Tel. 216-397-4541 (but email is better)
Expectations
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY includes careful reading of assignments before each class meeting, appropriate dress and decorous behavior during class activities, civil and active participation in class discussions, diligent group work on the field research project, and successful and punctual completion of assignments and any test measurements.
   Those who are new to college-level coursework should realize that,although there may not be daily "homework" or quizzes, it is impossible to do well at this level without spending time every day on the course material; typically, this typically means at least 3 hours outside of class for every hour spent in class. (See this spreadsheet for an example.) Reading assignments require analysis and synthesis for real understanding.Test questions, including objective questions, will require you not merely to have memorized course content but also to demonstrate that you understand its significance and, in the case of methodology, how and why to use it. See "What Professors Expect from Your Papers" for further information and suggestions.
   In addition, students who seek an "A" grade in this class should discuss this with the instructor at the outset of the term; since the "A" denotes superior student performance, achieving such a distinction typically involves work beyond that required for the course.
   Follow these links for more information.
Quizzes & exams
Each unit of study is followed by an examination, and quizzes are given frequently throughout the course. I reserve the right to require a cumulative final examination of students who have failed to complete one or more of the required assignments or who have earned a total score of less than 75% for the semester;students who have submitted all required assignments and earned a cumulative average above 75% are exempt.
Written Assignments
There will be two short essays in this course plus a variety of discussion sets that will be prepped as homework. The major written assignment is the Field Research Project. Expectations and grading criteria for writing assignments are available on the Writing Resources page. All written assignments should be submitted in typescript, hard copy. Assignments are graded based on timeliness, accuracy, insightfulness, and elegance of language. Follow the appropriate hyperlinks for details concerning each assignment.
Grading
GRADE DISTRIBUTION
APPA (Attendance,Discussions, Group Worksheets, etc.) 20%
Field Research Project 40%
Essays 10%
Quizzes (and exams prn) 30%
GRADINGSCALE
Sorry, no A+ A = 95% A- = 91% B+ = 88% B = 85% B- = 81%
C+ = 78% C = 74% C- = 70% D+ = 65% D = 60% F = 0-59%
Required Texts
Armstrong, Karen A Short History of Myth. Edinburgh/New York/Melbourne: Canongate, 2005. ISBN 0-7394-6390-X
Denny, Frederick M. Islam and the Muslim Community. Waveland/Harper, 1987, 1998. ISBN 1-577-66007-2.
Haught, John F. What Is Religion? An Introduction. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist, 1990. ISBN 0-8091-3117-X
Kimball, Charles When Religion Becomes Evil. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2002.. ISBN 0-06-055610-2
McGinn, Sheila E. Web page materials for RL 101, © 2008  
Weisel, Elie. Night. New York: Bantam/Doubleday/Dell, 1960, 1982. ISBN 0-553-27253-5.
Recommended Texts
Aageson, James In the Beginning  
Berling, Judith Understanding Other Religious Worlds  
Buber, Martin I and Thou  
Douglass, Mary Purity and Danger  
Eliade, Mircea The Sacred and the Profane  
Freud, Sigmund Future of an Illusion  
Hosseini, Khaled The Kite Runner  
Hosseini, Khaled A Thousand Splendid Suns  
     
Lewis, C. S. (Clive Staples) Till We Have Faces  
Nolan, Albert Jesus Before Christianity  
Otto, Rudolph The Idea of the Holy  
Course Resources:
Services for Students with Disabilities
John Carroll University recognizes its responsibility for creating an institutional climate in which students with disabilities can succeed. In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability, you may be eligible to request accommodations from the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations and should have equal access to learning.
   If you have any questions or you believe you need accommodations, contact the SSD coordinator, Allison West, at (216) 397-4967 or come to JCU's Office for Students with Disabilities (397-4967) in room 7A, in the Garden Level of the Administration Building. After your eligibility for accommodations is determined, you will be given a letter which, when presented to instructors,will help them know how best to assist you. Keep in mind that accommodations are not retroactive so it is best to register as soon as possible so that timely arrangements can be made.
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